Another day, another chapter!

A huge thanks to Veronica Hawthorne, Skatinggirl2011, jessxjess, Rock'N'RollGirls, Darkness Lurks unseen, loud mist, Larxenethefirefly, raindropsX and futureCSI22 for the reviews. I love hearing from you guys and it makes me so happy when I read them. I love to hear what you all think, so thanks!

And a huge thanks to my beta Veronica Hawthorne. You rock girl and I'm so grateful for the work you do :D

I didn't think I would get this chapter out yet, because like the idiot I am, I fell out of bed the other morning and hurt my wrist (which was very stupid! So don't any of you ever do it). But I persevered and finally got it written so I hope you all like it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek but I wish I owned Chekov, because I feel so guilty for doing all this to him. I love you Chekov!!!

"LASSIE!" Mr Scott bellowed as he entered Sickbay. His smile was wide as he held his arms out in welcome.

"Scotty!" Lizzie squealed in happiness as he approached her. She sat up in her bed and hugged him. "It's so good to see you!"

"It's good to see you too, Lassie, look'it how you've grown!"

It was so good to see Scotty again. Back when she spent time on the Enterprise four years ago, she worked under the watchful eye of Mr. Scott in Engineering. She loved it in Engineering. Having been inspired to work there by her brother, Scotty was always there to help her with everything and he always could make her laugh. He had been one of her closest friends whilst she was aboard the ship and she was more than delighted to see him again.

He returned the hug before pulling away and seating himself in the chair next to her bedside, moving around a little to get comfy, muttering to himself under his breath. Lizzie started to giggle.

"What?" He asked, still moving around in the chair.

"You haven't changed a bit, Scotty," she smiled. He would always mutter under his breath over something or other and sometimes it could be over the most stupid of things. He finally got comfy and reclined in the chair, letting out a deep sigh.

"You have," he stated calmly.

"I have?" she asked, a confused expression appearing on her face.

"Yes, you've grown much more beautiful, Lassie," he smiled. "Oh, and your hair is a bit longer."

"Why thank you, Scotty," she giggled, giving him a heart-warming grin. "It's very nice of you to say so." She shuffled about in her bed, try to sit up more. She lifted herself and rested her back on the pillows that were behind her.

"I'm sorry I didn't come visit you sooner," he apologised. "I mean, you have been here over three weeks, and this is the first time I've come to see you."

"It's okay, Scotty. Really, it is," Lizzie reassured him. "I haven't been awake for two, you know."

She still couldn't believe it herself. She had been in Sickbay for three whole weeks! Sure, she had been unconscious for two of those weeks, but the time had gone by so fast. It felt like she had only been here five minutes. Thankfully, she was slowly getting better. Most of her bruises had faded and a lot of her burns had turned into scars. Most of her cuts had disappeared too, the only ones remaining just appearing as scabs. It was only her broken bones that needed to heal. She had a few broken ribs which were bandaged up well, thanks to Kumiko, and they were healing well.

"It's just, there has been so much work to do, and the new Ensigns have been confusing me, not to mention…" Lizzie tried to stop his needless rambling.

"Scotty, it's fine," Lizzie laughed, resting her hand on top of his. "You're here now. That's all that matters."

"Thanks, Lassie," he smiled. He took a deep breath before he spoke again. "You look a lot better than the last time I saw you."

"When was that?" She asked him.

"When Spock and the Captain fetched you from that Klingon ship. I was the one who beamed you back."

"Thanks, Scotty."

"I mean you were in a right state, but you look much better and healthier now."

"I feel better," she began. "Bones has done a great job."

"I know he has," he smiled. "Everyone has been so worried about you."

"Tell me about it. I've had so many visitors," she smiled. She was so grateful for the concern everybody had for her and it made her heart swell with joy.

"I bet you have!" Scotty laughed. "You're quite popular, aren't you now, Lassie?"

"Nyota's visited and brought me some flowers, Jim has been to see me…"

"He and Kumiko are together now you know," he said, interrupting her.

"Oh, wow! That's great!" She said, pleasantly surprised. Kumiko was Sulu's sister and had had a crush on the Captain bigger than the universe. After a few words with Sulu, Jim decided to take a chance and went out on a few dates with Kumiko. However, Lizzie went home before she could find out what had happened between them.

"Yeah, I know. They went on a few more dates after you left, then it became official a few weeks after that."

"Wow, Jim Kirk settles down with a girl. Never thought I'd see the day," Lizzie commented.

"Hard to believe, I know," Scotty laughed. "But according to Bones, he hasn't strayed yet, and Bones isn't one to lie."

"That's good," she said.

"And I've heard he's not the only one in a relationship," Scotty said, suddenly changing the subject. He cast his eyes down to the ring on her finger.

"Yeah," she smiled lifting her hand up to flash the ring, heart fluttering as she thought about Joe. "I'm a taken woman!"

"Bloody hell, that's a big rock!" He said as his eyes widened. Lizzie giggled, blushing. "So what's his name?"

"Joe," she smiled to herself, his face appearing in her mind. She hadn't seen him in so long and she missed him greatly. She wondered how long she had been gone back in her time. Last time she was here, she had been gone for months, but it turned out she had only been gone for a day. Maybe he hadn't even noticed her absence yet.

"Well, he must be a great guy to buy you a ring that big."

"He is," she laughed, thinking of him some more.

Scotty paused for a moment. "So... How did Chekov take the news?"

"Oh, um, pretty well, actually," she said, deep in thought. "He seemed okay with it."

To her, he seemed okay with it. He told her that it had been four years and that it was alright that she was in a relationship. Deep down inside though, his reaction had hurt her a little. She thought he would have been a little more upset than he had been, given their past relationship and the feelings that had been there between them. Hell, they had been in love! Maybe he had gotten over her and moved on with his life. Maybe he didn't mind because she was happy. Yet, just the thought of that made her heart pang with hurt. She had missed him so much... Had he really missed her?

"But he hasn't been in to see me all week," she muttered.

"Really?" Scotty asked, his eyebrows furrowed.

"No," she replied quietly, the hurt digging a little deeper into her heart. She didn't quite understand why he hadn't been to visit her, but she hadn't seen him since the day she woke up and she missed his company…and his laugh…and his smile…and…

Stop it! She mentally scolded herself. She was with Joe now, not Chekov. Chekov was still a nice guy, in fact he was wonderful, but Joe... Joe's face came to mind again and she began to smile at the sight of it.

"And he was... Okay with the whole engagement thing?" Scotty asked puzzled.

"Yes," she replied matter-of-factly. "He seemed fine with it." She didn't understand why she was under interrogation.

"That kid needs to make up his mind," Scotty said to himself, shaking his head.

"What do you mean?" Lizzie asked him. She was a little confused.

"I mean, he needs to decide if he's really okay with it."

"W-why?"

"He's been a wreck since you left, Lassie," he told her, looking her in the eyes.

"What?" She asked worriedly.

"He's been a complete and total wreck. He's been depressed, angry, sad. He even turned to drinking at one point. He wouldn't talk to anyone and he would snap over the silliest of things. I don't even think he's been with another woman, he missed you so much."

"Wow," she muttered to herself, breaking the eye contact with Scotty. She didn't realise how much her absence would affect him. He had reacted just how she had... He had missed her. A number of emotions entered her head. Worry, sadness, fear... But most of all, guilt. She felt suddenly guilty that she had made him feel this way, announcing her engagement like it wouldn't hurt him. She felt guilty that she had made him lie to her about being okay with her engagement. He must have been heartbroken when he found out, but he had put on a brave face for her, not wanting to make her upset. She couldn't believe she had hurt him like that... She felt so confused, guilty then innocent, angry then depressed... A tear suddenly fell from her eye, but she quickly wiped it away. "I didn't... I didn't realise that."

"I know. That's why it shocked me when you said he was okay with everything."

"I... I should talk to him," she finally said after a long silence.

"I would if I were you, Lassie," Scotty smiled at her. "Do you want me to put a call out for him?"

"No, its okay," she replied. "I can get Nurse Chapel to do it for me."

"Okay Lassie. I better go anyway. The Engine Room isn't going to run itself, and the Ensigns sure as hell can't do it," he said in his Scottish brogue.

"Alright... Thanks for coming, Scotty."

"No problem. I'll come visit again soon." He stood up and kissed the top of her head before he gave her a smile and left Sickbay.

Lizzie watched him leave before she started to bawl. She reached for a tissue from her bedside table and attempted to wipe them away to no avail. She couldn't believe how selfish she had been, flaunting her engagement around. She had had no idea how Chekov had been all this time and now her telling him about Joe had just rubbed salt deeper into the wound. She didn't realise how hurt he had been and felt ridiculously guilty. It had probably been the reason as to why he had not visited all week and this just made her feel worse. She needed to see him fast to make it all up to him. She couldn't just leave it like this.

She decided, there and then, to go visit him. She knew Bones would kill her for leaving Sickbay, but she didn't care. She just needed to apologise and tell him she didn't mean to hurt him. She glanced around the room to see if the coast was clear. When she noticed that it was safe to go, she pulled off the quilt that covered her, swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. A sharp pain rushed through her ribs when she stood up, but she didn't care. This was more important.

She slowly began to walk forwards, keeping vigilant at all times. The fresh air around her legs felt good and it was nice to finally stretch and move them after being cramped in a bed for so long. In no time at all, she made it to the Sickbay doors and quietly slid out into the corridor. She let out a deep breath, thankful that she hadn't been spotted and rubbed her sore ribs before making her way down the corridor. The Turbo lift was in sight and it stopped at her floor just as she arrived to it. The doors opened and she slowly slipped in. She looked at the control panel and the sight of it made her feel as if she had never been away. She remembered it exactly and knew which buttons to press. She pressed the one that took her to the Bridge and the lift suddenly began to move. She leaned back on the wall of the lift and smiled to herself, glad that she remembered how it worked.

In only a matter of seconds the lift came to a stop and the doors opened to reveal a rather busy looking Bridge. As she got out, she realised it was just how she remembered it. Busy, white and shiny, with that huge window at the front showing her space in its entirety. She hadn't seen space since she had arrived back in the future, but it looked exactly the same as it always had. Large, vast and beautiful. It brought a smile to her lips.

"Lizzie? What are you doing up here?" A voice said, breaking her from her thoughts. She looked around and noticed that the voice belonged to the Captain. He was sitting in his chair, which he had swivelled around to face her. At just the sound of her name, Chekov turned around to look at her.

"Hi," she began nervously. "I, uh, was wondering if I could, uh, have a quick word with Pavel." She was playing with her fingers as she spoke.

"Yeah, sure," Kirk smiled. "Chekov?" He said gesturing over to Lizzie. "Go on."

"Uh, yes, Keptin," the Russian said as he got up from his seat next to Sulu. He followed Lizzie into the Turbo lift. The doors closed behind them and as it began to move, they stood there in silence. Lizzie was still fumbling with her fingers, trying to figure out the best way to talk to him. Unable to bare it any longer, she took a step forwards and halted the lift. She turned and faced Chekov, taking his hand in hers. They both jumped slightly as a surge of electricity shot through both of their bodies at the contact. He looked at her face and saw the sadness in it and tears in her eyes, threatening to spill over. The fact that she was upset automatically upset him too.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Vhat for?" he asked her quietly, not wanting to upset her more by raising his voice.

"For everything. For leaving you, for making you lie to me, for being inconsiderate to your feelings…for this," she said, waving her engagement ring at him. "I didn't realise how it would make you feel and I'm sorry I did that to you." Tears began falling from her eyes.

Chekov let out a deep breath before smiling at her. "It is okay Lizzie. You are here now and just zhe fact zhat I know you are okay and happy is all zhat matters to me." He rubbed smoothing circles into the hand he was holding whilst he used the other to dry her tears. "Do not cry."

"Sorry," she said to him. "I just feel... S-so guilty..."

"Do not feel guilty, Lizzie. You did nothing vrong." Just seeing her in this state was hurting him to the core. He wanted nothing better than to just hold her now and kiss the sadness away, make her his again, but he knew he could not do that. So he just settled for squeezing her hand and giving her a warm reassuring smile. "I just vant you to know zhat I am happy for you."

"Thank you Pavel," she said as the tears finally stopped. He was always so thoughtful.

She saw his smile and smiled back enjoying him rubbing circles in her hand. She loved his smile; it was always so soft and warm. She focused on his smile, knowing if she looked in her eyes she wouldn't be able to stop herself and she would kiss him with everything she had. She had once thought of his eyes as her Achilles heal; they were her one weakness. In fact, they were the reason that her new favourite colour for the past four years had been blue and once she was lost in them, there was no stopping her. She loved them. But thinking such thoughts was wrong so she quickly thought of Joe to keep her mind away from his smile and eyes. She quickly changed the subject. "Listen, I was wondering something."

"Vhat vould zhat be?" He enquired.

"I know we can't be everything we used to be... But you were my best friend then too."

"I vas," he smiled.

"So I was wondering if we, you know, could just be friends again. I don't want to lose you in my life Pavel, so what do you say?"

The words 'just friends' echoed in his head. That's all they could ever be now. Just friends. They could never have what they had before and they never would have it again, but he couldn't just leave her. He would never cut her out of his life; he loved her with all his heart, always had and always would. So if being 'just friends' was the only way to keep her in his life, he would settle for it. He would settle for anything to keep her with him.

"Zhat vould be vonderful Lizzie," he smiled. "You have alvays been my best friend."

"Thank you Pavel," she said, content with his answer. She faced the control panel and started the lift moving again. She didn't realise it, but she had the same sentiments as Chekov. If this was the only way to keep him in her life, so be it. If all they could have was a friendship, then that is what they would have. Any way to keep him with her… Anything.

The lift suddenly came to a halt and the doors opened to reveal a very angry McCoy and a very worried Nurse Chapel.

"There you are!" Bones suddenly shouted as he pointed at Lizzie. "Do you know how many people I have had looking for you? I go to check on you, and where are you? Gone! I told Jim you were gone, and thankfully, he said you were safe with Chekov."

"Sorry Bones," Lizzie apologised. "But I needed to speak to Pavel."

"I don't care! He could have come to you." He turned to look at Nurse Chapel.

"Christine, could you take her to Sickbay?" He asked in a much softer voice.

"Yes, doctor."

"And you," he shouted again, facing back to Lizzie, "I expect you to stay there. Okay? I'm a doctor, not a search party leader."

"Okay. Sorry, Bones."

"Okay then. Off you go."

"Bye Pavel," she quickly said to Chekov, giving him a quick smile.

"Bye Lizzie, I vill come by to wisit you later. I promise."

She gave him a quick wave before she followed Nurse Chapel to Sickbay. Doctor McCoy, however replaced her in the lift and set it to go to the Bridge once the doors closed. It began to move.

"What did she say?" He asked Chekov as soon as he noticed his sombre expression.

"She... She vants to be... Just friends." The phrase was so foreign to Chekov. Just friends. None of the magic we had before. Just friends.

"Well, isn't that better than nothing?"

"It is much better zhan nothing, but how can I be just friends with her when I love her so much?"

"I know it seems hard now, but it will get easier over time. I'll admit, when my wife divorced me, it hurt like hell. But now... I couldn't care less if I ever saw her again."

Chekov shot his head up and gave the doctor a worried look. Bones just chuckled to himself.

"I know that's not how you want it to be with Lizzie, but what I'm trying to say is take it one day at a time and it will all get better. Just spend what ever time you have with her making her happy. Let her know you love her without actually telling her. You'll be fine, you'll see."

"But I... I love her so much," he said, desperately trying not to look at Bones. "I have never had my heart broken before... I didn't know it vas zhis painful..."

"Hey, I spent years trying to find a medical cure for a broken heart. There isn't one. Turns out by the time I stopped looking, time had fixed it for me." He gave Chekov's shoulder a reassuring squeeze as the doors opened to reveal the Bridge.

As Chekov sat at his workstation, he let Bones' words swirl around his head. He loved Lizzie with all his heart, so if being her friend was all he could be, then he would be the best friend she had ever had. He would show her his love from afar and try to make her happy in what ever way he could. If they couldn't have the magic they had before, they wouldn't. They would be just friends, just like Lizzie wanted. He remembered her tears from the lift and promised himself that whilst he was around, she would never cry again. Maybe Bones was right; maybe time would heal him.

Yet, as his mind thought all of this, his heart yearned for something more. He didn't want to be healed by time... He wanted to be healed by love. He wanted to be healed by Lizzie's love. He wanted it back.